Engine Overhaul: Diesel Engine 3.0

The headline feature of Update 247 is Diesel Engine v3.0, a modernized build of the engine that has powered Payday 2 since launch . Key changes include:

• 64-bit architecture: The executable has been rebuilt as a 64-bit application, removing the 4 GB memory cap that caused out-of-memory crashes during long, crowded heists .
• DirectX 11 rendering: The switch from DirectX 9 to DirectX 11 does not make the game look noticeably better, but it uses significantly less VRAM and runs better on lower-end hardware .
• Better CPU utilization: The engine is now optimized for performance cores on modern multi-threading processors .
• Smaller install: The client dropped from ~86 GB to ~32 GB thanks to a new asset-compression system .
• Faster loading: Load times are noticeably shorter, especially on SSDs .
• Native VR integration: VR support is now built into the engine instead of requiring a separate branch .
• Epic Online Services rewritten: Cross-play and matchmaking were overhauled for better functionality .
• Other improvements: Lobby codes were shortened to 6 characters, the "Modern CPU Support" launch option is no longer needed, and native support for PlayStation 4 controllers was added .

Native Linux Support Removed — Proton Required

Update 247 formally retires the old native Linux branch. The official changelog states: "With this release we are also retiring the old native Linux branch, as it is no longer in development and causes confusion for new Linux users" . Linux players must now use Proton, Steam's Windows compatibility layer, to run the Windows build. The legacy 32-bit game was left temporarily available in Steam beta branches for players needing a fallback .

Reports from the community indicate that the Proton experience was already smoother than the native Linux build, which suffered from stutter, outdated Mesa compatibility, and missing Epic Online Services integration . The native Linux version had been lagging significantly behind updates for years, with many players already using Proton by choice .

Mod Compatibility Impact

The 32-bit to 64-bit shift broke virtually all existing mods, representing a major disruption for the modding community. Key points:

• Architecture incompatibility: Mods built for 32-bit could not read or write to the 64-bit executable. They either failed to initialize or caused crashes .
• SuperBLT broken: During the beta (ending late July 2026), SuperBLT — the standard mod loader — did not work with Diesel 3.0. The modding community advised players to "best not modify the 3.0 version of the game" during the beta .
• Official warning: The changelog cautioned that "updates may be incompatible with the mods you may have installed" and that "even seemingly unrelated mods may cause unexpected issues" .
• Recovery timeline: By the full launch on August 13, 2026, SuperBLT had an active release for 64-bit, but many individual mods still needed porting . Most mods were expected to function once SuperBLT and BeardLib (another modding framework) were updated, but mods using low-level hooks or 32-bit-specific code paths would need author updates .
• Asset mods at risk: Sound, texture, and character modifications were particularly vulnerable due to changes in how the new engine organizes files .

Player Count: Payday 2 vs. Payday 3

Payday 2 continues to dramatically outperform its sequel, even nearly two years after Payday 3's troubled launch. At the time of the Update 247 announcement, Payday 2 had roughly 30x more concurrent Steam players than Payday 3 . Current live figures (August 13, 2026) show Payday 2 with approximately 29,000 concurrent players and a 24-hour peak of ~33,000, while Payday 3 hovers around 1,000 .

Payday 2's player count actually grew in the months around the Diesel 3.0 beta — average players rose +8.91% in the last 30 days (as of May 2026) to ~21,108 . By contrast, Payday 3 lost more than 90% of its launch playerbase within its first month and has never recovered, dipping as low as 207 concurrent players in January 2024 .

Modder-Developer Involvement: Sidetrack Games

Sidetrack Games is the studio behind all new Payday 2 updates, including the Diesel 3.0 engine overhaul . The team is notable for being largely composed of former Payday 2 modders and dedicated community members . Starbreeze partnered with Sidetrack specifically to keep Payday 2 alive while the main studio shifted focus elsewhere — a strategy that stands in sharp contrast to Payday 3's struggles . This community-rooted approach has allowed Payday 2 to receive substantial engine work a decade after release, a rarity in the industry.

Engine Overhaul: Diesel Engine 3.0

The headline feature of Update 247 is Diesel Engine v3.0, a modernized build of the engine that has powered Payday 2 since launch . Key changes include:

• 64-bit architecture: The executable has been rebuilt as a 64-bit application, removing the 4 GB memory cap that caused out-of-memory crashes during long, crowded heists .
• DirectX 11 rendering: The switch from DirectX 9 to DirectX 11 does not make the game look noticeably better, but it uses significantly less VRAM and runs better on lower-end hardware .
• Better CPU utilization: The engine is now optimized for performance cores on modern multi-threading processors .
• Smaller install: The client dropped from ~86 GB to ~32 GB thanks to a new asset-compression system .
• Faster loading: Load times are noticeably shorter, especially on SSDs .
• Native VR integration: VR support is now built into the engine instead of requiring a separate branch .
• Epic Online Services rewritten: Cross-play and matchmaking were overhauled for better functionality .
• Other improvements: Lobby codes were shortened to 6 characters, the "Modern CPU Support" launch option is no longer needed, and native support for PlayStation 4 controllers was added .

Native Linux Support Removed — Proton Required

Update 247 formally retires the old native Linux branch. The official changelog states: "With this release we are also retiring the old native Linux branch, as it is no longer in development and causes confusion for new Linux users" . Linux players must now use Proton, Steam's Windows compatibility layer, to run the Windows build. The legacy 32-bit game was left temporarily available in Steam beta branches for players needing a fallback .

Reports from the community indicate that the Proton experience was already smoother than the native Linux build, which suffered from stutter, outdated Mesa compatibility, and missing Epic Online Services integration . The native Linux version had been lagging significantly behind updates for years, with many players already using Proton by choice .

Mod Compatibility Impact

The 32-bit to 64-bit shift broke virtually all existing mods, representing a major disruption for the modding community. Key points:

• Architecture incompatibility: Mods built for 32-bit could not read or write to the 64-bit executable. They either failed to initialize or caused crashes .
• SuperBLT broken: During the beta (ending late July 2026), SuperBLT — the standard mod loader — did not work with Diesel 3.0. The modding community advised players to "best not modify the 3.0 version of the game" during the beta .
• Official warning: The changelog cautioned that "updates may be incompatible with the mods you may have installed" and that "even seemingly unrelated mods may cause unexpected issues" .
• Recovery timeline: By the full launch on August 13, 2026, SuperBLT had an active release for 64-bit, but many individual mods still needed porting . Most mods were expected to function once SuperBLT and BeardLib (another modding framework) were updated, but mods using low-level hooks or 32-bit-specific code paths would need author updates .
• Asset mods at risk: Sound, texture, and character modifications were particularly vulnerable due to changes in how the new engine organizes files .

Player Count: Payday 2 vs. Payday 3

Payday 2 continues to dramatically outperform its sequel, even nearly two years after Payday 3's troubled launch. At the time of the Update 247 announcement, Payday 2 had roughly 30x more concurrent Steam players than Payday 3 . Current live figures (August 13, 2026) show Payday 2 with approximately 29,000 concurrent players and a 24-hour peak of ~33,000, while Payday 3 hovers around 1,000 .

Payday 2's player count actually grew in the months around the Diesel 3.0 beta — average players rose +8.91% in the last 30 days (as of May 2026) to ~21,108 . By contrast, Payday 3 lost more than 90% of its launch playerbase within its first month and has never recovered, dipping as low as 207 concurrent players in January 2024 .

Modder-Developer Involvement: Sidetrack Games

Sidetrack Games is the studio behind all new Payday 2 updates, including the Diesel 3.0 engine overhaul . The team is notable for being largely composed of former Payday 2 modders and dedicated community members . Starbreeze partnered with Sidetrack specifically to keep Payday 2 alive while the main studio shifted focus elsewhere — a strategy that stands in sharp contrast to Payday 3's struggles . This community-rooted approach has allowed Payday 2 to receive substantial engine work a decade after release, a rarity in the industry.